Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2012 ) Toronto 1, Tampa Bay 7

The Tampa Bay Rays are fully aware that the final fifth of the season will determine their postseason fate. The Rays are a half-game out of the final American League wild-card spot as they open four-game road series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. Tampa Bay snapped a four-game losing skid by beating the Texas Rangers on Wednesday and faces a Toronto club that has won just seven of its last 29 games.

The Blue Jays have a rare dose of momentum after taking two of three from the New York Yankees in a series that concluded Wednesday. It was Toronto’s first series win since late July. Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar matched a career-high with five RBIs, hitting a two-run homer and three doubles in the finale. Tampa Bay is 15-7 since Evan Longoria came off the disabled list. Longoria hit two of the Rays’ four homers in Wednesday’s victory and had three homers in the three-game series.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), Rogers SportsNet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Matt Moore (10-7, 3.60 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Carlos Villanueva (6-4, 3.30)

Moore has won four consecutive decisions and last lost on July 22 to the Seattle Mariners. He is 5-1 with a 1.97 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break. Moore is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in two starts against Toronto. He took a no-decision against the Oakland Athletics in his last outing, allowing three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Villanueva has lost four straight decisions and hasn’t won since beating the Detroit Tigers on July 27. He lost to the Baltimore Orioles in his last start when he gave up four runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Villanueva is 0-2 with an 11.93 ERA in seven career appearances (two starts) against Tampa Bay. He lost a start against the Rays on August 8 when he allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays reliever J.P. Howell hasn’t allowed a run in his last 23 appearances while setting a club mark with 26 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

2. Toronto rookie 3B Adeiny Hechavarria is batting .316 during a five-game hitting streak.

3. Rays SS Ben Zobrist, who went 3-for-4 in the finale against Texas, has three homers and five RBIs in six career at-bats against Villanueva.